Eating disorders in pregnancy

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What is an eating disorder?

An eating disorder is when you have an unhealthy relationship with food, weight or body image. This can take over your life and make you ill. Friends and family may be concerned about your wellbeing. The most common types of eating disorders are:

anorexia

bulimia

binge eating disorder (BED)

other specified feeding or eating disorder (OFSED). This is diagnosed when your symptoms don’t exactly match the other types of eating disorder.

Many people may not realise they have an eating disorder. The symptoms can include:

spending a lot of time worrying about your weight and body shape

avoiding socialising when food is involved

not eating a lot

deliberately making yourself sick

exercising too much

having very strict habits or routines around food

changes in your mood.

It can be very hard to realise you may need help. But it is important because you can get better with support. Talk to your GP. You can take a partner, family member or friend with you if it helps.

Some women find their symptoms improve while they are pregnant but come back or get worse after they've had the baby. It’s important that all your healthcare providers know about your condition so you can get the support you need before, during and after your pregnancy.

What should I do?

As well as talking about any physical health issues or concerns, it’s also important to tell your midwife or doctor if you are taking any medication for any mental health problems as soon as you know you are pregnant. Some types of medication for mental health problems have risks for your baby if you take them when you are pregnant or when you are breastfeeding. Your doctor should give you all the information you need to decide what to do about your medication while you’re pregnant.

To help you, your doctor will talk to you about:

the advantages and disadvantages of taking medication

the advantages and disadvantages of a different treatment option, such as guided self-help or talking therapies

what could happen if you stop treatment.

Do not stop taking medication for mental health problems before talking to your doctor. This can lead to withdrawal symptoms. It could also make your symptoms come back or get worse.

Ideally you should have a named professional (usually your GP or midwife) to support you during your pregnancy and after you give birth who will:

prepare you for the changes that will happen to your body

regularly check how you are getting on

offer you extra check-ups and closer monitoring during your pregnancy

talk to you about getting the right nutrition to support the health of you and your baby.

They may also offer to refer you to a nutritionist, dietitian or a specialist in in eating disorders.

If this doesn’t happen or if you feel isolated or unsupported, talk to your midwife and GP. They can arrange more help for you.

What's the treatment?

Your healthcare professional should give you more advice on managing your symptoms, weight change and healthy eating in pregnancy. Eating Disorders and Pregnancy has more information specifically for pregnant women with eating disorders.

If you need treatment during your pregnancy you should be offered the same therapies as other people with eating disorders.

This may include guided self-help (where you carry out exercises from a book with support from a therapist) or talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy. This may help you manage any issues about food, weight gain, body image and becoming a new mother.

After your baby is born

You’ll probably need continuing support after your baby is born. You may find the eating disorder gets worse again, even if your symptoms were better during pregnancy. Because you may also be more likely to develop postnatal depression, you and your partner may find it helpful to find out more about postnatal depression so you can recognise the signs and symptoms, just in case.

Your doctor should arrange for you to be seen in the first few weeks after your baby is born. Talk to your midwife or doctor about what your care will be after your baby is born.

Have a support network in place

You can’t plan for everything, especially when it comes to being a new parent. But you may find it helpful to talk to family and friends about your condition and what they can do to help you stay well after the baby is born. This may help you feel more prepared and in control.

Make sure your closest family and friends understand your condition and how it affects you. For example, you could talk to them about:

the symptoms you have experienced in the past

what medication you take (if any)

any warning signs they should look out for

who they can contact if they are worried about you.

Friends and family can also provide practical support, such as:

cooking healthy meals for you

taking the baby for a walk so you can get some sleep

doing any household chores for you, such as cleaning or laundry

spending time entertaining the baby while you take a break – even if it’s just to have a bath or shower.

This may help reduce any extra stress and let you concentrate on staying well.

Pregnancy and having a baby can be an exciting and demanding time for women. If you have an existing or past mental health condition it brings extra challenges and you are at higher risk of relapse during this time than at others.